Batch measuring container



y 25, 1964 c. P. VAN MAASDAM ETAL 3,

BATCH MEASURING CONTAINER Filed July 21, 1961 INVENTORS 64:15? E Vauflaasaan BY Jb/nv S. Pukowsxz flrraawzr United States Patent 3,134,521 BATCH MEASURING CGNTAEIER Cornelius P. Van Maasdam, Box 421, and John S. Polkowslre, Box 362, both of Fairfax, Minn. Filed July 21, 1951, Ser. No. 125,792 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-443) This invention relates to a container for liquid and more particularly to a container including a batch measuring compartment for pouring therefrom a pre-measured quantity less than the total capacity of the container.

We have found that it is advantageous to provide a container having a portion thereof adapted to measure predetermined amounts of liquid to be poured, as for example, pouring a measured amount of oil from one container into another which contains, for example, a quantity of gasoline as for use in outboard motors, power mowers, and the like.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a container having a separate compartment therewithin and communicating with the container storage chamber through a valved port to permit dispensing from the container a pre-measured volume of liquid (less than that of the storage chamber).

It is another object of our invention to provide a fluid container having a pre-measuring compartment in the bottom portion thereof for containing a predetermined amount of fluid wherein a valve for said compartment allows the predetermined amount of fluid to flow only from the compartment when said container is tipped.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a simple valving means and a pre-measuring chamber in a fluid container for discharging a predetermined amount of fluid from said container.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of our batch measuring container with the valves in position for filling the premeasuring compartment;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 1 with the valves in batch-discharging position and the container tipped to pour the pre-measured liquid therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the locking means for holding the emptying valve in open position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the locking device for the double valve operating mechanism.

As shown in the accompanying drawing, we provide a container having a bottom 11 and cylindrical side walls 12 sealingly connected around the outer peripheries thereof as indicated at 13. The container 16 has a top 14 with an opening 15 through which a discharge conduit 16 extends. The conduit 16 extends downwardly through a main storage chamber S defined within the container. A partition panel 33 extends across the bottom of the storage chamber S in spaced relation above the container bottom 11 to define a pre-measuring compartment A within the bottom of the container. The panel 33 has a pair of ports 32 and 34 provided on opposite sides thereof. The port 332 communicates with the discharge conduit 16 which is sealingly connected to the top of the panel 33 surrounding said port 32, thus isolating the tubular passage defined by the conduit 16 and the port 32 from the storage chamber S. The port 34 aflords communication between the storage chamber S and the batch measuring compartment A.

A pivot support 17 is connected with the top 14 and extends upwardly therefrom with a pivot pin 19 supported 3,134,521 Patented May 26, 1964 thereby. A valve actuating lever 18 is mounted on said pivot pin and has a pair of valve stems 21 and 26 connected to the respective end portions thereof as indicated respectively at 25 and 28. The valve stem 21 extends downwardly through an opening 20 in the top 14 and a grommet 24 provides a suitable seal therearound. 'A valve 35 is mounted on the lower end of stem 21 and a spring 36 normally urges the valve 35 downwardly to close the filler port 34 between storage chamber S and the batch measuring compartment A.

A suitable stabilizing guide 37 is provided in the lower portion of stem 21 and also provides an abutment for the upper end of return spring 36. The rod 26 extends downwardly through the conduit 16 and has a valve 31 mounted on the lower end thereof. A guiding support 30 is pro vided within the conduit 16 for stabilizing and supporting the rod stem 26. A return spring 29 is interposed between the valve 31 and the stabilizing plate 36 to normally urge the valve 31 into closed position.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the spring 29 is substantially stronger than the spring 36 so that the valve 31 will be normally closed and the valve 35 normally opened as positioned in FIG. 1. However, when the lever 18 is pivoted on the pin 19 so that the rod 21 moves downwardly to seat valve 35 and close port 34, the valve 31 will be opened and permit the liquid in the pre-measuring compartment A to be discharged through the conduit 16 and pouring spout 39. A suitable locking hook 50 is provided for positively locking valve 35 in closed position, as best shown in FIG. 2, to facilitate pouring from the batch pre-measuring compartment A.

The compartment A is vented by means of a Vent tube 23 which not only facilitates filling of the compartment from the storage chamber S but also facilitates pouring therefrom when the valve 35 is closed. In the event that the entire contents of the storage chamber S are to be poured out at once, a discharge port 42 is provided in the upper portion of the conduit 16 and has a valve 41 normally closing the same. A spring 43 is provided for this purpose and works against a support member 44 which also guides a valve stem 45 to which the valve 41 is connected. The stem 45 extends horizontally across the upper portion of the chamber S and out through the side wall thereof, and suitable means for retaining the valve 41 in open position are provided such as the enlarged ears 45a formed on the valve stem 45 which pass freely through an elongated opening 44:: formed in the support 44 but engage the support 44 when the stem 45 is rotated. The handle 45b on the end of the stem is elongated to indicate the direction of projection of the ears 45a. A grommet 46 may be provided around the stem 45 where it passes through the upper portion of side wall 12 as indicated.

It will be seen that we have provided a relatively simple yet highly eflicient batch measuring container specifically constructed to pre-measure a precise volume of liquid less than the volume of the entire container and facilitate discharging of this pre-measured liquid without discharging the liquid from the main storage chamber of the container.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportion of parts without departing from the scope of our invention, which generally stated consists in the matter set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A fluid container for discharging a pre-measured quantity of fluid, including in combination, a container structure having sides, bottom and top portions, a plate portion secured to said side portions and spaced from said bottom portion to contain a predetermined volume of liquid in the volume compartment formed thereby, said plate portion being provided with a plurality of valve means wherein one of said valve means admits fluid to said volume compartment and another valve means discharges said fluid from the compartment, and valveoperators for the valve means extending exteriorally' of the container to open and close said valve.

I 2. The combination of claim 1 including a pivot support mounted on said top portion, a handle pivotally mounted on said pivot support, said handle extending on each side of said pivot support and engageable with said valve operators wherein said valve means are opened and closed by movement of said handle.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein one of said valve means is provided with spring means for urging it in a closed position and the other, said valve means is provided with spring means for urging it in a closed position.

4. A fluid container for discharging a measured quancontainer to, said volume compartment and said outlet valve means being operable to discharge fluid from said volume compartment, and pivoted handle means mounted on the top portion of said container for actuating said valves in accordance with the handle position.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a discharge compartment communicating with said volume compartment through said outlet valve means, whereby opening of said outlet valve means by said handle means and tipping said container discharges fluid from said volume compartment to said discharge compartment. 6. The combination of claim 5 including a valve means in said discharge tube for allowing fluid to flow directly from the container to the discharge compartment for emptying said container, a valve operator extending exteriorally of said container, and a spring means for urging said discharge valve means in a closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 104,414 Bostwick June 21, 1870 1,064,150 McDaniel June 10, 1913 1,706,631 OBrien Mar. 26,1929 2,025,796 Waldheim Dec. 31, 1935 

1. A FLUID CONTAINER FOR DISCHARGING A PRE-MEASURED QUANTITY OF FLUID, INCLUDING IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER STRUCTURE HAVING SIDES, BOTTOM AND TOP PORTIONS, A PLATE PORTION SECURED TO SAID SIDE PORTIONS AND SPACED FROM SAID BOTTOM PORTION TO CONTAIN A PREDETERMINED VOLUME OF LIQUID IN THE VOLUME COMPARTMENT FORMED THEREBY, SAID PLATE PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF VALVE MEANS WHEREIN ONE OF SAID VALVE MEANS ADMITS FLUID TO SAID VOLUME COMPARTMENT AND ANOTHER VALVE MEANS DISCHARGES SAID FLUID FROM THE COMPARTMENT, AND VALVE OPERATORS FOR THE VALVE MEANS EXTENDING EXTERIORALLY OF THE CONTAINER TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID VALVE. 